NatureNurture
How can I design an accessible digital product that assists in mediating climate anxiety in marginalized communities across the United States?
Scope: Mobile App Design, Design Research, User Interviews/Testing, Graphic Design, Data Visualization, Figma, Adobe Illustrator
THE PROBLEM
Worldwide Google searches related to climate anxiety increased by 4,590% from 2018 to 2023.
Google searches for the term rose 565% from 2020 to 2021.
Additionally, Millennials and Generation Z individuals are more likely to experience climate anxiety than other age groups in the United States, so they were my focus group.
Climate Anxiety is…
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Thinking about what does recovery look like.
Sarah Salmonese sits in the ashes where her apartment once stood in Lahaina, Hawaii.
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Not knowing how to protect your children and their future.
Man carrying child through the flooded waters.
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Pain knowing that things won't be the same for your community.
Workers search through the remains of tornado-damaged homes in Greenfield, Iowa.
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That feeling that you don't know where to go from here.
Ken and Tina Kruse by their apartment in Tarpon Springs, Florida after flooding from Hurricane Idalia in 2023.
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Fear in the face of the problem that you cannot control.
Members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline construction that threatens sacred burial grounds and drinking water quality.
Survey of 27 Persons, Visualized with Adobe Illustrator
How are Gen Z and Millenials impacted by environmental issues?
What is the level of concern you feel regarding environmental issues on a daily basis?
How overwhelmed have you felt by the scale of environmental problems?
What is their mindset of the future?
Is your mindset towards the future more optimistic or pessimistic?
How much do you think mental health impacts sustainable practices/habits?
Notable Survey Respondents
Om Shah
24 years old
Rated 9/10 for concern about environmental issues and 7/10 for feeling overwhelmed by their scale.
“I’m optimistic about the growing urgency for cleaner tech, [but]… pessimistic due to the equity gap.”
“I’d use a sustainability app, but past use left me unmotivated to take action.”
Aaliyah Farah
22 years old
Rated 7/10 for feeling overwhelmed by environmental issues and 9/10 for pessimistic mindset.
“I’m pessimistic due to global disbelief in the climate crisis… If mindsets don’t shift, we’ll fail and be doomed.”
“I would like for there to be meaningful action [in the sustainability app].”
Giacomo Macchiavello
23 years old
Rated 9/10 for feeling overwhelmed by environmental problems and 6/10 for his mindset.
“My trip back to Peru made me aware of environmental problems. Pastoururi glacier has shrunk 10 kilometers, and a lake now exists that wasn’t there 20-30 years ago.”
“I’d use a sustainability app, but staying disciplined might be tough. Quick impact would be ideal.”
With the effects of climate change only intensifying with each passing year,
How might I design a mindful digital solution that alleviates one’s climate anxiety?
After my research, I found that there are 3 areas that must be addressed to effectively alleviate one’s climate anxiety.
Mindfulness
Environmentalism
Connection to Nature
Competitive Analysis
What are current sustainability apps?
Initial Ideation Sketches
Low Fidelity Prototype
How do I take my sketches into Figma for a low-fidelity product?
Introducing the Product:
NatureNurture
An app that alleviates climate anxiety through mindfulness, community building, and optimism.
Opening Page
Profile Home
When the user enters the app, they are prompted with an emotional check-in and an update on the weather in their area.
They are provided tips provided by Nature Nurture’s staff on how to proceed with the day, and they can also see their saved practices.
Three Main App Features
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Track an Action
These actions include sustainable habits and mindfulness where the user can have a moment of pause when they are feeling anxious. One of the most prominent protective factors from climate anxiety includes a belief in personal resilience and and present-moment mindfulness.
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Community Resilience Hub
Look through tagged posts of different climate adaptation practices that are done in the community. Individuals who reported greater family support, close friendships, and a sense of community were protected from developing poor mental health following a climate disaster.
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Good News Outlet
Stay aware of local events and positive news to encourage optimism in users. Consuming good news reduces stress and anxiety, leads to higher rates of engagement, community building skills, and inspiration for making the world a better place.
